SHRIMPERS CLOSE THE CLASS GAP

SPURS 0 SOUTHEND 0 EXTRA TIME

LABOURED Tottenham were treated to their own end-of-the-pier show last night as Efe Sodje came within inches of claiming another memorable Carling Cup scalp for battling Southend.

The defender's header bounced tantalisingly wide as Spurs were taken to extra-time by lower league opposition for the second home tie in a row.

Spurs remain the great pretenders of English football: pace to burn, more flair than seventies trousers.. but a softer centre than all those chocolates you will scoff next week.

Yet Martin Jol has come closer than most to cracking the enigma code and is optimistic the FA Cup trip to Cardiff in the New Year will not be the only time Spurs venture across the Severn Bridge this season.

Jol's men have chalked up 10 successive home wins, Southend have yet to win away in the Championship.

But there is more to the day trippers' mecca than saucy postcards and kiss-me-quick hats these days, as Manchester United discovered to their cost last month.

And Jol afforded due respect by fielding a strong side - and the Shrimpers' purposeful approach soon vindicated his decision to take them seriously.

Mark Gower, bombed out by Spurs under George Graham, tested England keeper Paul Robinson with a dipping shot and Freddy Eastwood - whose free-kick stunned United - caught the eye with his work-rate alone.

But Spurs, Steed Malbranque pulling the strings in midfield, carried the greater threat and they came within millimetres of drawing first blood after 22 minutes.

Jermain Defoe's teasing left-wing cross appeared to land behind Mido, but the Egypt striker swivelled to hit a spectacular volley against the underside of the bar. And as Southend were still adjusting to the loss of veteran defender Spencer Prior through injury, Danny Murphy's glancing header from a Paul Stalteri cross drifted marginally wide.

Although Darryl Flahavan remained the busier keeper - saving well from a Defoe header - Spurs were grateful for Stalteri's magnificent last-ditch tackle when James Campbell- Ryce prepared to pull the trigger a minute before the break.

Malbranque's angled drive, Stalteri's speculative long-range effort and Defoe's lob over the top signalled an increase in the tempo after the restart. But Southend refused to be pushed back indefinitely.

Efe Sodje was a colossus, Kevin Maher - another Tottenham reject - was tenacious and Eastwood, watched by another posse of scouts, roamed across the front line in true gypsy fashion.

In the contest between Jol's pretty boys and Steve Tilson's gritty boys, here was another reminder for Spurs that artistic impression alone does not win matches.